2014 World Cup: Adebayor BLASTS Yaya Toure and Ivory Coast's big egos

" src="http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ivory1-477319.jpg" width="590" height="350" /> The Ivory Coast squad will face Colombia, Greece and Japan in their World Cup group

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Five Africans teams will represent the continent during next month's World Cup in Brazil. Adebayor has played against all these teams for Togo and can offer a rare insight into each. And his verdict on Ivory Coast, a side brimming with Premier League stars, is scathing.

He said: "I never trust them. They are the country that will always let you down. I know all of them from the bench to the manager. Sabri Lamouchi [their coach] is my very good friend.

"How come for the last four or five years have they not won the African Cup of Nations? They have got the best striker in Europe in Didier Drogba. They have got the best midfielder today, Yaya Toure. You've got one of the best strikers in the league today, the one that plays at Swansea, Wilfried Bony. You have all of those players.

"But the thing is, are they going to be collective enough? I don't know. I am not an Ivorian. They will be talking, laughing and enjoying themselves but when the time comes, they will forget about their job.

"There's no togetherness. Everyone wants to be the hero. Everybody wants to be the one to finish on a high so the folks remember them for what I have done, not for what we have done as a generation, nor for what we have done as team. Everyone wants to be like a hero and that is what is killing Ivory Coast."

Aside from those 'egos' of Ivory Coast, Africa will be represented in Brazil by Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria - and it is the latter who gets Adebayor's vote.

They are the current African Cup of Nations holders and, with a young squad of players based at home and Europe, they have the right balance going to this World Cup.

Adebayor said: "Out of these teams, it [my choice for which of the African teams will go the furthest] would be Nigeria because of their concentration. Because of Stephen Keshi [the coach] - he knows a lot about football and everything. He has been there as well as a player for Nigeria.

"And they have got Victor Moses, who is a great friend of mine, and I like the way he plays. Jon Obi Mikel played a lot for Chelsea this year and showed how good he is. Their goalkeeper is very good. Nigeria have all the ingredients to be good in the World Cup."

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah has assembled a team with mainly Europe-based players who have have played together for long time but, much like Ivory Coast, their attitude at times can be their downfall.

Adebayor said: "Ghana have a good team. I hope they do well but they have done everything that is possible.

"Asamoah Gyan is a great player and great friend of mine but is now playing in Dubai. He is still their main man. If he is not in form or if he does not match the level of the World Cup, then Ghana will struggle."

Indeed they will. In fact, during my time as a player, I got to know many of those who will be taking part in the World Cup for their respective African nations.

Experienced players like Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari will need to be at their best to help Ghana.

Emmanuel Adebayor (centre) played against Ivory Coast in January 2013 [GETTY]

But again, egos and arrogance can play a big part in this team; less of that will be vital for them going to this tournament.

Elsewhere, Cameroon has the toughest group out of all teams from Africa, pitched in Group A alongside Croatia, Mexico and hosts Brazil.

Not being involved in the African Cup of Nations has given their manager the chance to assemble a new group of players with one or two senior ones to help the team to gel better. This would probably be Samuel Eto'o's last major tournament and he will obviously like to finish on a high.

Algeria have mainly European-based players in their squad. The squad has been together for while now but playing in the World Cup is different. This young side needs to be at the very best for them to get out of their group, which includes Russia, South Korea and a very exciting Belgium side.

Nabil Bentaleb, who has featured a lot more this season for Tottenham under the sacked Tim Sherwood, could have a huge impact.

Most of the African teams, however, all have one thing in common - egos. Cameroon are no different to the Ivorians; they all want to claim the No1 spot. This will lead to their downfall.

Comments

maubs says:

May 23, 2014 04:05 pm

i wouldnt call it ego or arrogance because the way how i understand it sometimes self confidence of the type you need to do well in sports could be called arrogance but he has a point which is the number of times you see a top player not release the ball early, or losing posession in a vital area just to try to pull a stunt which does not come off or even trying a shot from a ludicurous angle and distance smack me of desire for personal glory and playing in a tournament with intention of winning a bigger contract by players rather than focusing on the collective aim. African players sometimes must know that giving away balls for reasons of personal glory is as bad as conceding a penalty, and that there is a need to be efficient in attack which means being focus enough so three attacker can finish off teams rather than committing seven attackers on the offensive all the time. Efficiency and collective play is as good as gold in the modern game.

DELLUBASH says:

May 24, 2014 01:29 am

NIGERIA IS NOT TOTALLY IMMUNED FROM PLAYERS EGO. DO YOU THINK OSAZE WILL ALLOW LITTLE EMENIKE TO OUT-SHINE HIM IN THE WORLD CUP? I HAVE MY RESERVATION FOR THE INCLUSION OF OSAZE, IT IS NOT ABOIT ASSEMBLYING NIGERIA'S BEST PLAYERS BUT PRESENTNG NIGERIA'S BEST TEAM. FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Isagbere says:

May 24, 2014 11:18 am

If u live in glass house don't throw stones .., see who is talking , real recognized real .. Ade is the king of cocky , ego n arrogant .. Thank u

Sir Africa says:

May 24, 2014 11:18 am

May God help Africa this time around. So that we can have two teams in the semis.

godfred says:

May 23, 2014 10:10 am

Gyan did the right thing in taking the penalty, he was the no.1 penalty taker, their captain and had the confidence. look at how he scored the second, let us not let our misfortune destroyed the good intention and actions of others.
who is Adebayor to talk about ego? why and how did he left Arsenal? with what altitude did he lead Togo? what did he win with them, and how many times did they qualify to the AFCON AND WORLD CUP.
i love him as a human being but he is going too far.

milky says:

May 23, 2014 07:20 am

Adebayor shut up. If he knows how teams should work together and stuff, why isn't his team going to Brazil? Please with all your insight into players egos and stuff you and your team doesnt work together and you couldnt help them so please shut up. sigh....
mannn i hate people like this

PeeWee says:

May 23, 2014 07:21 am

Its true ego and arrogance eats up African sides; but it's ironic that someone as corky, and arrogant like Adebayor would point fingers at others...unbelievable.

Gada says:

May 23, 2014 08:30 am

Ade just nailed it.

RLFielding says:

May 23, 2014 08:52 am

Well said PeeWee

yenkasa says:

May 23, 2014 06:53 am

Ade you have said it all. Ghana paid for their ego in South Africa otherwise we could have reach the semi-final.Asamoah Gyan wanted to be the hero other than that someone could have scored the penalty. Egos of our players in Africa is killing our players.They have to learn to be humble and cooperate with and respect each other.

papa says:

May 23, 2014 08:45 am

yeah Adebayor is prob one of the more arrogant ones with the tantrums he has thrown over the years. very funny. as far as i am concerned ghana players are not arrogant, however i think sometimes the issue with seniority in the team can bring us down. some players dont want to admit when other players are reaching their levels . e.g ( asamoah gyan vs ayew). I am glad essien is back , i hope he will manage that stuff.

Benito says:

May 23, 2014 12:06 pm

I don't see our being arrogant at all,human as they are there may a little issues here and there.we all see how they sing,clap,and dance together during tournaments like the world cup.